Randi Zuckerberg, former Facebook executive and sister of Mark, seems to have fallen victim to the loopholes and uncertainties of the social network’s privacy policy. And when a Zuckerberg herself is stung by the controversial settings, Silicon Valley seems to enjoy a good bit of schadenfreude.

Over the holidays, Zuckerberg posted a photo of her family in the kitchen, looking excited about something. Not a particularly controversial picture, but a private one nonetheless. Apparently, it showed up in the newsfeed of a friend-of-a-friend, who then posted it to Twitter. (The person claimed to think it was a public photo and apologized.)

It was a moment ripe for snickering: after insisting that their site is user friendly and that the visibility of every bit of media posted can be controlled, a Zuckerberg is caught being tripped up by the system.

But Randi did not see it quite like this, and by lashing out at others, started a debate on social media etiquette that may damage her own standing and her brother’s site.

“Digital etiquette: always ask permission before posting a friend’s photo publicly. It’s not about privacy settings, it’s about human decency,” Randi Zuckerberg tweeted later.

Many were not sympathetic to her lecturing. David Lyons at ReadWrite criticized Zuckerberg for reacting so haughtily over a mundane photo; Lyons then outlined numerous legal and ethically controversies involving Facebook, which he referred to sarcastically as “that beacon of morality.”

Chris Matyszczyk at CNET suggested that Facebook pay a user $10 million if the site “indecently impounds an image for a commercial purpose”.

What do you think? Should Zuckerberg take it down a notch?

[Image via Miguel Villagran/Getty Images Europe]

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